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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>376994</law_id><section_number>8.01-227.17</section_number><catch_line>Duties and responsibilities of winter sports participants and certain other individuals</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="12" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="27" identifier="25">Winter Sports Safety Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">winter sports participant</span> has a duty and responsibility to: <a id="paragraph-1407238" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Exercise reasonable care in engaging in winter sports at the <span class="dictionary">winter sports area</span>, including, but not limited to, the exercise of reasonable care in:
				a. Participating in a <span class="dictionary">winter sport</span> at a <span class="dictionary">winter sports area</span> only on <span class="dictionary">designated trails</span> that are not marked &#x201C;closed&#x201D; and refraining from participating in a <span class="dictionary">winter sport</span> in any portion of a <span class="dictionary">winter sports area</span> that is not a <span class="dictionary">designated trail</span> or is marked &#x201C;closed&#x201D;;<br/><br/>				b. Knowing the range of his ability to participate in the <span class="dictionary">winter sport</span> in which he is participating and acting within the limits of that ability;<br/><br/>				c. Being the sole <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of his knowledge of and ability to successfully negotiate any trail or <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> and refraining from negotiating any trail or <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> until obtaining sufficient knowledge and ability to do so;<br/><br/>				d. Heeding and obeying all warnings, notices, and signs provided by an <span class="dictionary">operator</span> and not altering, defacing, removing, or destroying any such warning, notice, or sign;<br/><br/>				e. Maintaining control of his speed and course at all times and maintaining a proper lookout so as to be able to avoid other <span class="dictionary">participants</span> and <span class="dictionary">objects</span>;<br/><br/>				f. Staying clear of any <span class="dictionary">winter sports area vehicle</span> or infrastructure, other than when embarking on or disembarking from a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> or when present at or in a residential building or other building that is open to the public;<br/><br/>				g. Wearing retention straps, ski brakes, or other devices to prevent runaway equipment;<br/><br/>				h. Making a visual inspection of any <span class="dictionary">winter sports area</span> <span class="dictionary">competition terrain</span> and viewing any <span class="dictionary">freestyle terrain</span> the participant intends to use;<br/><br/>				i. Acting in a safe manner that will avoid contributing to the injury or death of himself or others or the damage to property, including refraining from participating in a <span class="dictionary">winter sport</span> when the participant&#x2019;s ability to do so safely is impaired by the consumption of alcohol or by the use of any narcotic or other drug or while under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic or other drug, or placing, fabricating, or shaping any <span class="dictionary">object</span> in a trail;<br/><br/>				j. Embarking on a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> only with the authority of the <span class="dictionary">operator</span>;<br/><br/>				k. Boarding or dismounting from a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> only at a designated area;<br/><br/>				l. Acting in a manner while riding a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> that is consistent with posted rules and that will not interfere with the proper and safe operation of the <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span>;<br/><br/>				m. Refraining from throwing or expelling any <span class="dictionary">object</span> while riding on a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span>, and from placing an <span class="dictionary">object</span> on or about the uphill track, the entry area, or the exit area of any <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span>;<br/><br/>				n. Crossing the uphill track of a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> only at designated locations; and<br/><br/>				o. When involved in a winter sports collision or other accident involving another individual who the participant knows or reasonably should know is in need of medical or other assistance, obtaining assistance for that individual, notifying the proper authorities, and not leaving the scene of the collision or accident without giving the participant&#x2019;s personal identification, including his name and local and permanent address, to an employee or representative of the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> or to someone providing assistance to the individual, except for the purpose of obtaining assistance for the individual, in which case the participant shall give his personal identification to an employee or representative of the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> or to someone providing assistance to the individual after obtaining such assistance; and <a id="paragraph-1407239" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> When requested, provide his personal identification to an employee or representative of the <span class="dictionary">winter sports area</span> or <span class="dictionary">operator</span>. <a id="paragraph-1407240" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Each passenger using a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> with the permission of an <span class="dictionary">operator</span> shall abide by and fulfill each duty and responsibility set forth in subsection A that is applicable to use of a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span>. <a id="paragraph-1407241" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Each participant, and each passenger using a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> with the permission of an operator, shall be deemed as a matter of <span class="dictionary">law</span> to have seen and understood all postings, signs, and other warnings provided by the <span class="dictionary">winter sports area operator</span> as required by this article. <a id="paragraph-1407242" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> An operator is entitled to assume that each passenger who boards a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> has sufficient knowledge, ability, and physical dexterity to embark upon, disembark from, and negotiate the <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span>. Any passenger who is unfamiliar with the use of a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> or who believes he does not have sufficient knowledge to embark upon, disembark from, and negotiate a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> shall ask the operator for instruction on such use or to provide such knowledge. Nothing in this article shall be construed to extend liability to an operator for injury to or death of a participant or other individual or damage to property resulting from a passenger who is unfamiliar with the use of a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> or believes he does not have sufficient knowledge to embark, disembark from, or negotiate a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span> and does not ask the operator for instruction on such use or to provide such knowledge, or who does not have the ability or physical dexterity to embark upon, disembark from, or negotiate a <span class="dictionary">passenger tramway</span>. <a id="paragraph-1407243" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Any individual who is not authorized by the operator to use or be present at the <span class="dictionary">winter sports area</span> shall be deemed a trespasser. <a id="paragraph-1407244" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-227.17/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2012, c. 713.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
